Editor’s note: The above video aired in a previous newscast.
HELL’S KITCHEN, Manhattan (PIX11) — A man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from several New York City renters in an alleged fake apartment scheme, authorities said Thursday.
Nicholas Fuelling, 43, was arraigned on multiple charges of grand larceny Wednesday night after a month-long search for the suspect, prosecutors said.
Fuelling allegedly subletted the same two-bedroom apartment at 334 West 47th St. in Hell’s Kitchen to five people in August, according to the criminal complaint.
The fake apartment listing was posted on social media sites like Facebook Marketplace and Instagram. Some of the victims toured the space before signing the leases and putting down a deposit of at least $3,000, authorities said.
Miguel Marchese, 24, told PIX11 News he thought the transaction was legitimate and he was lucky to find an apartment, but he ended up losing $6,400.
“I saw the place, I saw his Instagram, he was a real person … sending a real lease to me through DocuSign,” he previously said.
Councilman Erik Bottcher previously told PIX11 News he was contacted by one of the victims and urged him to file a police report. The man then found other victims, and they also came forward.
An NYPD flyer was then plastered around Hell’s Kitchen looking for the suspect.
“People just have to be really, really vigilant when subletting an apartment. The problem here is he was a master of deception,” Bottcher said.
Fuelling pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released without bail because the charges are not bail-eligible, according to a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
He is due back on court on Oct. 8.
His attorney could not immediately be reached on Thursday.